NORWALK -- A family's harrowing experience of being stranded at sea was quelled by a group of Norwalk police officers who heroically came to their rescue on the night of Sept. 26.

Officers Russell Ouellette, Mark Suda, Vidal Gonez and Richard Delallo were named the September officers of the month and honored at Monday's Norwalk Police Commission meeting for rescuing nine adults and two children who had become stranded off of Shea Island when their boat ran aground in rough waters.

"I know how dangerous it can be out there and frightening, quite frankly as you're being tossed around (in the water)," said Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling. "It can be a very harrowing experience. This is another example of our officers doing what they can to keep people safe."

The incident unfolded around 8 p.m., when the police department received a distress call of a 22-foot center console fishing boat that had run aground, forcing its occupants to evacuate the vessel.

The group of officers, along with the Norwalk Fire Department's Marine Units, quickly responded to the report that the vessel was taking on water in the vicinity of Shea Island.

Once there, officers discovered that the boat was stuck on a sandbar, which forced the 11 passengers to swim in chilly water to Shea Island for safety.

At the time, Ouellette said the surf was rough with 5 to 6-foot swells and a persistent wind added to the already difficult situation.

"We took the police boat out to Shea Island in rough seas and found that they had stayed a little too long on a family trip (to Shea Island) and had gotten in over their heads," Ouellette said. "What made it really bad that night was the wind, which was blowing exceptionally high out of the east along with the high tide. It created havoc for everyone."

One by one, the 11 family members were assisted onto the Marine Unit boat and brought back to the mainland via Norwalk Harbor.

"As the waves rolled in, they were hitting us chest high and the boat itself began filling up with water," Ouellette said. "The poor little kids were traumatized."

Once back on shore at the Veterans Park Docks, a crew from Norwalk Emergency Medical Service evaluated the group for exposure and released them at the scene.

In a memo to the officers, Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said they have been chosen for the honor due to their intrepid and resourceful command of the high seas during an intense nighttime storm.

"By placing your own safety at risk, you helped ensure the safety of men, women and children seafarers during an incident in which they were in great danger and stranded on an island in the Sound," Kulhawik said.

"On behalf of the families that you rendered aid to, I want to thank you for your quick response, selflessness and professionalism during this rescue operation. It is certainly gratifying to know that there are officers of your caliber in our department."

Police say the group had been camping on Shea Island and had returned to their boat to go home. However, the boat suffered a mechanical issue upon hitting a sandbar, causing it to take on water.

The Coast Guard had been called in to assist in locating the vessel, which did not have a flare gun on board.